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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1205, 26 February 1880, Page 2

Yet another change has been made in the arrangements for the Christchurch Review. These preliminary evolutions are quite as interesting as the prospective event to which their existence is due will be, and the reading of the accounts regarding them sent by telegram and otherwise will constitute the only share that the majority of the Volunteers of the Colony will take in the event; Actuated by an inordinate desire to give birth' to a big thing, which was to emblazon Christchurch's name in the history of the Colony as that of the centre of military ardor and chivalry, the Volunteer magnates of thai place took upon themselves to invite the Volunteers of the Middle Island to join them in a grand strategic display at Ea3ter. The Christchurch Volunteers are the self-constituted hosts—those who accept their invitation will be their guests. That is very nice. Such military reunions are excellent, and, as they must be held somewhere, we do not knew of any reason why the next one should not be held in Christchurch. There are, however, the objections that numbers of Volunteers are not their own masters, and would be necessitated to ask their employers to grant them leave of absence, which would place them under an obligation and entail 1033 of salary, and that others are engaged in businesses absence from which would mean considerable sacrifice of money. These are serious drawbacks; but, nevertheless, the attendance would have been as great as could have been desired, if no others had cropped up. The host, represented by the Christchurch I Volunteers, expects its guests not only to "bring their own tea and sugar," but everything excepting the atmosphere—it will supply that. The latest phase of the affair is given in the following military document, issued from the " War Office " " Assistant Quarter-Master General's " Office, " Christchurch, Feb. 24, ISBO. " In consequence of the arrival yesterday of an immigrant vessel with sickness on board, and on this ground solely, the Committee have withdrawn their proposal to occupy the Immigration Barracks as billets for Volunteers attending Easter Review. In view of the above fact, the A.Q.M.G. will allot billets in town in order of application received to date. To accommodate any excess beyond the numbers for which accommodation in town has been offered by the Committee, a camping ground will be provided, and the A.Q.M.G. will receive applications

j from corps to attend Review who may be iia a position to provide their own camp equipage and bedding, and make such arrangements .with local contractors as j they may think fit, in lieu of the 10s ; originally named. The A.Q.M.G.'s staff will affurd every facility in forwarding such an arrangement. " By command. "Alex. Lean, Major, nt( A.Q:M.G." By a former arrangement,:'it was laid down that the guests, in* addition to carrying their own utensils, &c., were to put 10s in their pockets as -a'contribution towards the expenses of the affair, "and that those who could not get hotel accommodation " for love nor money" were to be billeted in the Immigration Barracks. This latter was considered by its originators tpjjbea grand stroke of policy.'. The building had been cleared out in order that those -who sought the shelter.of - its - hospitableroof might be exposed to just sufficient danger from measles, scarlet feverf'ajid smallpox, to render their situation interesting without 'being : so '-alarming' as to incapacitate them from attending to their military duties. "This arrangenient has been abrogated. We presume thai; the authorities have interposed some stupid objection to the visiting Volunteers unnecessarily rushing into "the jaws of death." The Committee; entrusted with the arrangements, valorous men that they are, would never hav£ though t-of thinking" of such an objection. However, those who-choose to go are; promised that their worst fate will be to dwell in the tented field* unless some of the hotels, : that, from,sheer necessity, .will be bought j into requisition, mil be characterised by | dirty, .bedding," had- food, V an.d' '.general. squalor.. To .our minds tlje game wili,upj; be worth the candle. We, do. .not .think i that the affair has emanated from the; hotelkeepers of Christchurch, unless some; estimable men connected with it have. l been sadly-misled ; but it will be productive of benefit to Christchurch, and its. : people should have contributed at least: something towards it. This grand military.: affair may be viewed as a luxury in which; the people of Christchurch wish to in-: dulge wholly at the expense .of .the Volunteers of other parts-of the Colony.; "We "commend those Volunteers of Dunedin. who have refused to .accept rthe invitation to take part in ;the proceedings. :